Retractable Tool for Collecting Craft Objects

ABSTRACT

A retractable herding apparatus comprises a housing, a tap drum, a retractable tape, and a biasing member. The housing has an interior cavity, a sidewall and an opening defined in the sidewall to provide access into the cavity. The tape drum is rotatably disposed in the housing. The retractable tape has a first end and a second end. The first end of the retractable tape is attached to the tape drum. The second end of the retractable tape is attached to the housing proximate the opening in the sidewall. The retractable tape is movable between a fully retracted position and a fully protracted position. The biasing member couples to the tape drum. The biasing member is provided to bias the retractable tape toward the retracted position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/156,296 filed Jun. 8, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/353,525 filed Jun. 10, 2010.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a gathering device useful for collecting smallobjects, such as objects used in craft projects, or other fields ofendeavor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In certain instances it is required to gather up a number of smallobjects from a surface, such as a table top, a counter, or a work bench.In these situations, it may be time consuming to pick up each individualobject. Additionally, some people with certain medical conditions, suchas arthritis, may find it exceedingly difficult to handle a large numberof objects. Thus, a need exists for a device that can be utilized togather a number of small objects from a surface without requiring theuser to handle every object.

The present invention is provided to solve the problems discussed aboveand other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not providedby prior baking pans. A full discussion of the features and advantagesof the present invention is deferred to the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, a retractable herding apparatus comprises ahousing, a tape drum, a retractable tape, and a biasing member. Thehousing has an interior cavity, a sidewall and an opening defined in thesidewall to provide access into the cavity. The tape drum is rotatablydisposed in the housing. The retractable tape has a first end and asecond end. The first end of the retractable tape is attached to thetape drum. The second end of the retractable tape is attached to thehousing proximate the opening in the sidewall. The retractable tape ismovable between a fully retracted position and a fully protractedposition. The biasing member couples to the tape drum. The biasingmember is provided to bias the retractable tape toward the retractedposition.

According to another embodiment, a retractable herding apparatuscomprises a housing, a tape drum, a retractable tape, a biasing member,and a brake element. The housing has an interior cavity, a sidewall andan opening defined in the sidewall to provide access into the cavity.The tape drum is rotatably disposed in the housing. The retractable tapehas a first end and a second end. The first end of the retractable tapeis attached to the tape drum. The second end of the retractable tape isattached to the housing proximate the opening in the sidewall. Theretractable tape is movable between a fully retracted position and afully protracted position. The biasing member couples to the tape drum.The biasing member is provided to bias the retractable tape toward theretracted position. The brake element operatively couples to one ofeither the tape drum and the retractable tape. The brake element ismovable between a first position and a second position. When the brakeelement is in the first position, the retractable tape is biased tofully retracted position and is movable toward the fully protractedposition.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable gathering device accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the retractable gathering device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the retractable gathering device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the retractable gathering device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the retractable gathering device of FIG.1 with the retractable tape in a retracted position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken through line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the retractable gathering device with a top of ahousing removed and the retractable tape in a retracted position; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of the retractable gathering device with a top of ahousing removed and the retractable tape in a protracted position; and

The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasisinstead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

FIGS. 1-8 show a retractable herding device, or retractable gatheringdevice, 10 used to collect a plurality of objects from a surface, suchas a table top. The retractable herding device 10 comprises a housing12. The housing 12 has an interior cavity 14 formed therein. The housing12 has a sidewall 16 that has an opening 18 formed therein. The sidewall16 partially encloses the interior cavity 14. The opening 18 providesaccess to the interior cavity 14 of the housing 12. The interior cavity14 is adapted to receive the plurality of objects collected by theherding device 10.

The herding device 10 further comprises a tape drum 20. The tape drum 20is rotatably disposed within the housing 12. A retractable tape 22 isattached to the tape drum 20. The retractable tape 22 has a first end 24and a second end 26. The first end 24 of the retractable tape 22 isconnected to the tape drum 20. The second end 26 of the retractable tape22 is connected to the housing 12 proximate the opening 18 in thesidewall 16. The retractable tape 22 is moveable between an protractedposition, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, 6 and a retracted position, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 7. The tape drum 20 thus is utilized to store theretractable tape 22 in a retracted position. The tape drum 20 may storethe retractable tape 22 in a coiled arrangement. While a single tapedrum 20 is shown in FIGS. 1-8, it is contemplated that a plurality oftape drums may be provided, such that a single retractable tape 22 or aplurality of retractable tapes 22 may be used with the herding device10.

The retractable herding apparatus 10 further comprises a biasing member32 controlled by a release 28. The biasing member connects to the tapedrum 20 and controls operation of the retractable tape 22 within thetape drum 20. It is contemplated that the biasing member 32 may take theform of a coil spring. The biasing member 32 biases the retractable tape22 of the tape drum 20 to a retracted position. As shown in FIGS. 1-4,the biasing member release 28 takes the from of a release button. Whenthe biasing member release 28 is depressed, the biasing member 32 causesthe retractable tape 22 to move towards the retracted position withinthe tape drum 20. When the biasing member release 28 is not depressed,the retractable tape 22 may be pulled out of the tape drum 20, such thata longer length of retractable tape 22 is exposed, until the entireretractable tape 22 is exposed. The retractable tape 22 will stay in aprotracted position or a partially protracted position until the biasingmember release 28 is depressed.

The retractable tape 22 may be formed from a variety of materials suchas metal or plastic. One material that may be well suited for use informing the retractable tape 22 is a vinyl polymer.

A gripping member 30 may be provided on the retractable tape 22. Thegripping member 30 allows a user to more readily move the retractabletape 22 to a protracted position. The gripping member 30 may be slidablealong a length of the retractable tape 22 so as to allow the user topull the gripping member 30 in one direction relative to the housing 12to move the retractable tape 22 to a protracted position.

As the retractable tape 22 moves to a fully retracted position, aportion of the retractable tape 22 will cover the opening 18 formed inthe sidewall 16 of the housing 12. Thus, with the retractable tape 22 ina fully retracted position, the interior cavity 14 of the housing 12 isenclosed by the retractable tape 22 covering the opening 18 of sidewall16.

It is further contemplated that the housing 12 may include a moveablecover. The moveable cover is adapted to move from an open position,allowing access to the interior cavity 14 of the housing 12, to a closedposition, preventing access to the interior cavity 14 of the housing 12.It is contemplated that the moveable cover will be slidably mounted tothe housing 12, and that the cover will slide between an open positionand a closed position.

It is contemplated according to a further embodiment that theretractable herding device 10 may also comprise a brake element 34. Thebrake element 34 is coupled to one of the tape drum 20 and theretractable tape 22. The brake element 34 moveable between a firstposition and a second position. With the brake element 34 in the firstposition, the retractable tape 22 is biased by the biasing member 32 tothe fully retracted position, but is moveable toward a protractedposition. With the brake element 34 disposed in the second position, theretractable tape is fixedly maintained in a predetermined position. Thepredetermined position may be a partially protracted position, or afully retracted position.

In operation, the retractable herding device 10 is provide onto asurface, such as a table top. The retractable tape 22 may be placed intoa protracted position by the user grasping the gripping member 30 andpulling a length of the retractable tape 22 from the tape drum 20. Oncea sufficient length of retractable tape 22 has been exposed from thetape drum 20 to surround a plurality of objects the user wishes tocollect, the release 28 is depressed, allowing the biasing member tocause the tape drum 20 to position the retractable tape 22 into aretracted position. As the retractable tape 22 is moving to theretracted position, the plurality of objects are contacted by theretractable tape 22, and herded into the interior cavity 14 of thehousing 12. Once the retractable tape 22 reaches the fully retractedposition, the opening 18 of the sidewall 16 is covered by a portion ofthe retractable tape 22, thereby securing the objects in the interiorcavity 14. Thus, the plurality of objects may be quickly and easilygathered into the interior cavity 14 by the retractable herdingapparatus 10.

While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limitedby the scope of the accompanying Claims.

1. A retractable herding apparatus comprising: a housing having aninterior cavity, a sidewall and an opening defined in the sidewall toprovide access into the cavity; a tape drum rotatably disposed in thehousing; a retractable tape having a first end and a second end, thefirst end of the retractable tape being attached to the tape drum, thesecond end of the retractable tape being attached to the housingproximate the opening in the sidewall, the retractable tape beingmovable between a fully retracted position and a fully protractedposition; and a biasing member coupled to the tape drum, the biasingmember being provided to bias the retractable tape toward the retractedposition.
 2. The retractable herding apparatus of claim 1, wherein theretractable tape is formed from one of either metal and plastic.
 3. Theretractable herding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retractable tapeis formed from a vinyl polymer.
 4. The retractable herding apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein when the retractable tape is in the fully retractedposition, at least a portion of the retractable tape covers the openingin the side wall.
 5. The retractable herding apparatus of claim 1,further comprising a cover movable between an open position and a closedposition, wherein when the cover is in the closed position, the coverobstructs opening in the sidewall.
 6. The retractable herding apparatusof claim 5, wherein the cover is slidably coupled to a sidewall and thecover is slidable between the open position and the closed position. 7.The retractable herding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising agripping member attached to the retractable tape.
 8. The retractableherding apparatus of claim 7, wherein the gripping member is slidablealong a length of the retractable tape.
 9. The retractable herdingapparatus of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a coil spring.
 10. Aretractable herding apparatus comprising: a housing having an interiorcavity, a sidewall and an opening defined in the sidewall to provideaccess into the cavity; a tape drum rotatably disposed in the housing; aretractable tape having a first end and a second end, the first end ofthe retractable tape being attached to the tape drum, the second end ofthe retractable tape being attached to the housing proximate the openingin the sidewall, the retractable tape being movable between a fullyretracted position and a fully protracted position; a biasing membercoupled to the tape drum, the biasing member being provided to bias theretractable tape toward the retracted position; and a brake elementoperatively coupled to one of either the tape drum and the retractabletape, the brake element being movable between a first position and asecond position, wherein when the brake element is in the firstposition, the retractable tape is biased to fully retracted position andmovable toward the fully protracted position.
 11. The retractableherding apparatus of claim 10, wherein the retractable tape is formedfrom one of either metal and plastic.
 12. The retractable herdingapparatus of claim 10, wherein the retractable tape is formed from avinyl polymer.
 13. The retractable herding apparatus of claim 10,wherein when the retractable tape is in the fully retracted position, atleast a portion of the retractable tape covers the opening in the sidewall.
 14. The retractable herding apparatus of claim 10, furthercomprising a cover movable between an open position and a closedposition, wherein when the cover is in the closed position, the coverobstructs opening in the sidewall.
 15. The retractable herding apparatusof claim 10, wherein the cover is slidably coupled to a sidewall and thecover is slidable between the open position and the closed position. 16.The retractable herding apparatus of claim 10, further comprising agripping member attached to the retractable tape.
 17. The retractableherding apparatus of claim 16, wherein the gripping member is slidablealong a length of the retractable tape.
 18. The retractable herdingapparatus of claim 10, wherein when the brake is in the second position,the retractable tape is fixedly maintained in a predetermined position.19. The retractable herding apparatus of claim 10, wherein the biasingmember is a coil spring.